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Digestion Protocol

“Primitive and traditional diets have a high food-enzyme content from raw dairy products, raw meat and fish; raw honey; tropical fruits; cold-pressed oils; wine and unpasteurized beer; and naturally preserved, lacto-fermented vegetables, fruits, beverages, meats and condiments.” Weston A. Price Foundation

"You are not what you eat but what you absorb." Jeffrey Bland PhD

"It appears that obesity is not the only thing controlled by the information in our food. So are stress response, mood, behavior. memory and brain function. That is why a fresh, whole food, organic, real-food diet is the foundation of health."  Doctor Mark Hyman

"Food is powerful medicine. Eating more of certain foods and less of others can substantially boost the bodies ability to fight most illnesses from colds to cancer."   Doctor Keith Block MD

“Artichoke leaf extract is one of the few phytopharmaceuticals whose experimental and clinical salubrious effects have been confirmed to a great extent by biomedical research. The proven basis of artichoke leaf extract’s benefits on the gastrointestinal system is the promotion of bile flow.”  Life Extension

”Cholesterol levels are sometimes high because of impaired conversion of cholesterol to bile acids.” Michael Murray N. D.

“Common digestion problems may benefit from enzyme supplementation.” Schneider et al

“58% of the population has some type of digestive problem(s). Lack of optimal digestive function associated with enzyme inadequacy may lead to malabsorption and other related problems.” Rachman 

“Drugs like Prozac actually divert serotonin from the intestinal tract to the brain, leading to digestive problems including constipation in many patients.” Sally Fallon and Mary G. Enig, PhD

“Fermentation is undesirable in the small intestine. When the intestinal ecosystem is healthy, beneficial bacteria keep yeasts and other fermentation microorganisms at bay in this part of the digestive tract. An imbalance of microorganisms, called dysbiosis, results in overgrowth of fungus and other pathogens, resulting in numerous digestive disorders.” Sally Fallon and Mary G. Enig, PhD

“Like all ecosystems, the delicate balance of the digestive tract can be altered by various toxins including antibiotics and other drugs, chemicals like chlorine and fluoride in our water, food additives and preservatives, stimulants like coffee, and an overabundance of difficult-to-digest foods like improperly prepared whole grains.” Sally Fallon and Mary G. Enig, PhD

“In neither case are the bacteria causing illness. They are trying to prevent illness by breaking down the dying tissue. Whether it's rotting yogurt in a blocked colon, a dead coyote in the forest, or infected liver cells in the body of an alcoholic, bacteria are just doing what they do best: cleaning up. When the bacteria are "diagnosed" as the cause of the illness, rather than a sign of the illness, the medical approach is to try and kill them. But that's like killing the garbage men. The garbage remains. Understanding such a simple concept is pivotal in arriving at a holistic outlook toward health.” The Doctor Within

“Several human diseases are inflammatory in nature, including asthma, Crohn's disease, rheumatoid arthritis, polymyalgia rheumatica, tendonitis, bursitis, laryngitis, gingivitis, gastritis, otitis, celiac disease (gluten intolerance), diverticulitis (infection of the diverticula in the colon), and inflammatory bowel disease. Additionally, a number of chronic diseases have inflammatory components, such as atherosclerosis, obesity, diabetes, cancer, and perhaps even Alzheimer's disease.” Victoria J. Drake, PhD

“The age related decline in enzymes produced by the stomach, pancreas and intestines can lead to deficits in vitamins, minerals and trace elements that can adversely affect immune system functioning and over all health. Taking high quality digestive enzyme supplements with meals has been found to be quite effective at averting these deficits and optimizing nutrition. ” Life Extension

“It is normal to eliminate two or more times per day. Transit time: how much time between food in and waste out. Normal transit time is less than 24 hours. This means that only two or three meals should be in transit throughout the digestive tract at a time. Today's breakfast IN pushes yesterday's breakfast or lunch OUT. Toxic fecal matter is supposed to totally leave the body in one day, not hang around to toxify.” The Doctor Within

“Food is not supposed to just sit there and rot. We're only supposed to store three meals (Jensen.) But most Americans store nine, twelve, or even more meals before one comes out. This increased transit time is irritating to the intestinal lining. Mucous is not powerful enough to move the toxic, enzyme-less sludge of Taco Supremes and Curly Fried Onion Rings with ketchup.” The Doctor Within

“Spore-producing Bacillus coagulans is a unique probiotic that has been found to be superior to other probiotics in terms of surviving the gastric environment, colonizing the intestines, and producing lactic acid.” Life Extension

“Most modern food which the American diet comprises is poison. Why do I say that? A good poison will: 1) block the flow of blood, 2) decrease the amount of oxygen to the tissues 3) interfere with one or more major systems of the body, 4) actually cause addiction to the poison itself 5) eventually kill the subject without ever being detected. No poison in history has achieved these goals on the scale that processed food has. We don't have a natural diet. Most of us have a SAD diet - the Standard American Diet. You know - burgers, fries, pizza, beer, chips, donuts, coke, etc. These are non-foods, new to the human species in the past century. Our digestive systems were never designed to break these chemical bizzarros down. So the stuff doesn't get digested - it just sits there, rotting. Abnormal diet = abnormal digestion.” The Doctor Within

"Of the 22,000 operations that I have personally performed, I have never found a single normal colon. Of the 100,000 that were performed under my jurisdiction, not over 6% were normal. I estimate that over 90% of the "diseases of civilization" were due to a blocked and non-functioning colon.” Doctor Harvey Kellogg, Surgeon, Iridology: the Science and Practice p 408

“Another drug - Propulsid - supposedly works by forcing the impacted food out of the intestines. Unfortunately, so many people have died of heart failure from it, that is was scheduled to be taken off the market after 6 months, which would be Aug 2000. That's standard procedure. Even though the FDA knows people are dying from a drug, they keep it on the market for up to a year to allow the drug companies to recover some of their investment!” The Doctor Within

 “Gas, bloating, heartburn, stomach ache, feeling full when beginning to eat, abdominal cramping, unsatisfied hunger - these are common symptoms of enzyme deficiency. But most doctors treat such problems as though they were signs of drug deficiency! All that pizza and fries and tacos and yoghurt is devitalized food: no enzymes. As a result, once in the stomach, it just sits there. The stomach produces more and more acids and digestive enzymes trying to break down this overcooked, chemical-laden sludge we mistakenly refer to as food. But it can't do it.” The Doctor Within

“A healthy intestine is of paramount importance for anti-aging. Optimal gastrointestinal health depends on the balance of microscopic interplay between billions of beneficial and pathogenic bacteria. Both are needed for normal bowel functions. A well-maintained balance between these opposing microorganisms is essential for a properly functioning digestive tract. About 400 species of these "good bugs" inhabit the intestines. Their total population is about 100 times the number of cells in your body. Remarkably, these microorganisms coexist peacefully in a carefully balanced internal ecosystem. As long as they flourish, they prevent pathogenic (disease-causing) bacteria and fungi from colonizing. In this way, beneficial bacteria help keep you healthy. If the delicate intestinal environment is disrupted, pathogenic bacteria, parasites and fungi such as clostridia, salmonella, staphylococcus, Blastocystis hominis and Candida albicans often move in, multiply and attack the beneficial bacteria.”    Doctor Michael Lam MD

“According to Dr. Batmanghelidjs, the body may use pain to warn us that dehydration is the basic cause of many illnesses, including: Gastritis, Duodenitis, and Heartburn.  All these conditions are associated with dyspeptic pain. Dyspepsia is the "thirst pain" signal of our body and signifies a water shortage in the upper part of the gastrointestinal tract. This can happen to people of any age group. He has clinically treated over 3,000 persons with dyspeptic pain by simply increasing water intake and the clinical picture improved and disappeared. Not recognizing heartburn as a sign of dehydration, and treating it with antacids and drugs, may produce inflammation of the stomach and duodenum, ulceration, gastrointestinal bleeding, and eventually cancers in the gastrointestinal tract.” Doctor Michael Lam MD

"The gut has to be in balance for the brain to be in balance. The brain experiences everything that happens in your gut directly through nervous system feedback, immune activity, cytokines and other assorted mischievous molecules made in your gut." Doctor Mark Hyman

"All carbohydrates must be thoroughly chewed. Carbohydrates require an alkaline environment for best enzymatic action. A good alkaline environment is the mouth. Only by chewing can we properly digest carbohydrates." Doctor Anthony Cichoke

"It is critical for a healthy body that we keep the colon clean and free of debris. The stress on the body is incalculable when toxins are reabsorbed into the overburdened bloodstream and taken to the already over worked liver."  Doctor Anthony Cichoke

"The older you get the more your digestive system breaks down, especially if you have been following the standard American diet. Specifically the lining of your stomach gradually loses its ability to produce hydrochloric acid which releases vitamin B 12 from your food. The use of antacids or anti ulcer drugs will also lower your stomach acid secretion and decrease your ability to absorb vitamin B 12.  Infection with Helicobacter pylori, a common contributor to stomach ulcers, can also result in vitamin B12 deficiency. However the main cause of vitamin B 12 deficiency is a term researchers call food-cobalamin malabsorption syndrome.  Cobalamin is the scientific term for vitamin B12. This typically results when your stomach lining loses its ability to produce intrinsic factor which is a protein that binds to vitamin B12 and allows your body to absorb it at the end of your small intestine." Doctor Joseph Mercola MD

"I have found supplemental doses of vitamin A are an outstanding way to reverse cellular changes on surfaces. That includes skin (outer) and intestines (inner). Now we see it helps interior cells as well (prostate). The late Dr. William Donald Kelley used potent doses of vitamin A in many of his cancer patients. Vitamin A is essential to maintain your surface cells (epithelial tissues) as physical barriers to infection. It also is closely involved in maintaining many types of immune system cells. In my experience, adding folic acid drops, 5 mg three times daily to vitamin A, 100,000 IU daily for three to six months has reversed many premalignant conditions. If you are at risk of prostate cancer, take this information to your integrative physician and have him supervise your vitamin A intake. It could save your life.”  Doctor Robert Rowen MD

"In May, the American Academy of Environmental Medicine concluded that animal studies have demonstrated a causal relationship between GM foods and infertility, accelerated aging, dysfunctional insulin regulation, changes in major organs and the gastrointestinal system, and immune problems such as asthma, allergies, and inflammation."

"Researchers found that a high intake of flavonols from beans, onions, apples, and tea can significantly lower your risk of colon cancer. Patients in the highest flavonols quartile  reduced their advanced adenoma recurrence by 76% compared to the lowest quartile.”   Doctor Robert Rowen MD

"If you take heartburn drugs, you don't need me to tell you the odd paradox of these meds -- the more you take them, the more you need them. That's because these deadly drugs are actually CAUSING your symptoms -- not curing them. Healthy people with no history of tummy troubles were given these meds for eight weeks. Then, after being taken off them, more than 40 percent developed heartburn, acid regurgitation and/or dyspepsia. The study, published in Gastroenterology, is just the latest in an endless list of bad news about these drugs. They've been linked to an increased risk for osteoporosis and bone fractures, diarrhea, potentially deadly cases of pneumonia and so much more.”  Doctor William Douglass MD

"Rhubarb: This humble, everyday vegetable has the power to tone and tighten the muscles of the intestinal wall, adding strength and improving your gut’s function. As an astringent, it also neutralizes the effects of toxic build-up in your gut.”  Doctor Al Sears MD, Note to avoid oxalates eat raw

Peppermint calms your nerves and eases spasms. It's especially soothing on the whole digestive tract.”  Doctor Robert Rowen MD

"For IBS sugar is your greatest enemy. It is the single substance that has been responsible for IBS in the majority of my patients."   Doctor Nan Fuchs PhD

"Another benefit of chewing longer is that your food is digested better. The majority of your digestive enzymes are actually in your mouth, not in your stomach. Therefore, chewing your food longer allows it to be broken down better.”   Doctor Joseph Mercola MD

"In four weeks, a high-glucose diet was found to shut down the gene that creates digestive enzymes. Food wouldn’t move through the digestive tract, and it couldn’t be absorbed.”   Molecular Biology Reports. 2010 Apr; 37(4):1867-1874. Note this is a great example of epigenetics in action, simply avoid the sugar and your epigenome will not be rearranged negatively

Healthy digestion

 “Eating just 2.5 ounces of broccoli sprouts daily had significantly lower levels of H. pylori markers in their stool and breath than those eating alfalfa sprouts. The former also showed less inflammation in the stomach as well.”   Johns Hopkins University

“If you have stomach problems, please consider making broccoli sprouts a staple in your diet. It might keep you from getting reinfected with H. pylori once you are rid of it. It might also lower your stomach inflammation regardless of cause. They're good for anyone with gastritis, ulcer disease, or perhaps even reflux problems.”   Doctor Robert Rowen MD

This site was last updated on: 16 May 2012 09:51 AM

The information provided throughout this site should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any illness. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. A licensed integrative physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all illnesses you can not handle yourself. You and your doctor should reach an informed consensus on diagnosis and treatment. It is incumbent on YOU to know enough about your illness to do this. Blindly following  some doctors orders will in the end sink you IMO. Links to other sites are provided for the targeted information indicated and links should not be regarded as an endorsement of all additional information that those other sites may provide although these sites are in general very good to excellent or I would not use them. Trust but verify. Trust government at your own risk. IMO toxic depopulation  politics is the cause of MOST of our health and MANY of our death problems. Trust yourself because YOU have become knowledgeable enough to trust.  YOU are the ONLY one responsible for your life and health; once you realize this your life will get MUCH better and also in ways other than your health.